siLLy puPPy
A truly majestic piece of atmospheric black metal that really piles on the sounds and ideas to make a very interesting and unique piece of work. LURKER OF CHALICE is the creation of sole member Wrest who is also involved in Leviathon and Twilight. This is a different beast altogether. Unlike most of Wrest's work with Leviathon the main focus of LOC is ambience, atmosphere and soundscapes.
The aggressive black metal can still be found but is less pronounced and surrounded by ambient passages that allow the music to develop at a very slow pace. There is random dialogue that reminds me of White Zombie intros or some tracks of the experimental electronic group COIL. There is also a lot of very doomy and drony times that reminds me of SUNN O))) or Earth.
There can be many changes in tempo and cord progressions and once an idea has had the time to breathe and live for a while it metamorphizes into something different but always maintaining a continuity in the haunting atmospheric textures. The vocals when they appear in a musical form are not screamed or shouted but rather gently growled or even whispered.
This is an extremely well done album and although it may not satisfy those who crave adrenoline inducing headbanging aggression, it certainly more than makes up for it in the atmospheric department guaranteed to leave you despondent and depressed. Well done, Wrest! Another one of these, please.